BELLEVUE, Neb. -- Five Bruins scored in double figures and BU hit 14 3-pointers as the No. 23-ranked Bellevue University men's basketball team recorded a convincing 97-63 win over Dickinson State University Saturday night in North Star Athletic Association action at the Gordon Lozier Athletic Center.
Bellevue improved to 19-9 on the season and 6-3 in the NSAA. The Blue Hawks dropped to 12-14 overall and 5-6 in conference play.
Mike Cardenas led the Bruins with 17 points, connecting on four 3-pointers and adding a pair of rebounds. Senior Chris Ashanti finished with 16 points and four rebounds and was a perfect 7-for-7 from the charity stripe. Jerred Cook added 15 points with five 3-pointers, while adding four assists. Senior Nicolus Guzman poured in 12 points and Wes Burke contributed with 10 points, two rebounds and two assists.
Curtis Redd (15) and Gilberto Shojgreen, Jr. (14) combined for 29 points to pace the Blue Hawk offense.
The Bruins shot 54.5 percent from the field in the opening half and hit 9-of-18 3-pointers to grab a commanding 54-33 halftime advantage.
Cardenas led BU in the first period with 14 points, including three 3-pointers. Cook added 12 points, all on triples, going 4-for-7 from behind the arc.
The BU defense held DSU to 41.7 percent shooting in the first period and the Blue Hawks hit just 1-of-8 on 3-point attempts. Redd led the Blue Hawks with with 14 points and three rebounds in the opening 20 minutes.
The Bruins extended the advantage to 33 points after opening the second half on a 17-5 run, nabbing a 71-38 lead with just under 16 minutes left in the contest.
A pair of free throws by Reggie Fields, Jr. brought the Blue Hawks to within 25 points at 73-48 at the 13:19 mark, but that was as close as DSU would get as the Bruins pulled away for the 97-63 victory.
The Bruins will travel to LaCrosse, Wis. next Friday, Feb. 19, for a 6 p.m. NSAA contest at Viterbo University.
Note: The Bruins for seniors - Marquis Aaron, Chris Ashanti, Nicolus Guzman and Olutola Olushola were all honored before the game which marked their final regular-season home appearances of their BU careers.
Photos from Senior Night.
